Giant's Causeway, Crimplene To Meet in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Giant's Causeway and Best of the Bests, the respective first- and third-place finishers in the Esat Digifone Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I) earlier this month, will meet again on Saturday in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-I) at Ascot, England. Crimplene, a multiple group I winning filly, and Indian Lodge are also being pointed to the one-mile race, according to Sporting Life.

Since finishing second in both the Sagitta Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) and the Entenmanns Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I), Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat -- Mariah's Storm, by Rahy) has reeled off five consecutive group I wins, four of which came against older horses. The Aidan O'Brien trainee is owned by Mrs. John Magnier and has won nine of 11 career starts.

Crimplene (Lion Cavern -- Crimson Quest, by Diesis) won three straight group I races before finishing fourth against males in her most recent race, the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard-Jacques Le Marois (Fr-I), won by Muhtathir. The Clive Brittain trainee's group I wins came in the Entenmanns Irish One Thousand Guineas, the Coronation Stakes, and the Vodafone Nassau Stakes.

"Crimplene is a definite runner and in very good form," Brittain told Sporting Life. "She had a week off to relax after France, but has come back into her work very strongly."

Godolphin Racing's Best of the Bests (Machiavellian -- Sueboog, by Darshaan) has two wins from eight lifetime starts and has been racing at longer distances as a 3-year-old. His most recent win came in the Prix Guillaume d'Orano (Fr-II) at just under 1 1/4 miles. When last out, he finished third, beaten by 1 1/2 lengths, in Giant's Causeway's Irish Champion Stakes.

In his most recent start, 4-year-old Indian Lodge (Grand Lodge -- Repetitious, by Northfields) rallied though the stretch to win the Emirates Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-I) by two lengths over Kingsalsa. The Prix du Moulin win was the first in a group I for the Amanda Perrett trainee, who has won seven of 16 career races.